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Payback

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description Payback Overview

Payback is a 1999 action thriller directed by Brian Helgeland and starring Mel Gibson. The film adapts Donald E. Westlake’s novel *The Hunter* (under the Richard Stark pseudonym), previously filmed in 1967 as *Point Blank*. It features a cast including Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, and Kris Kristofferson.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

info Payback Specifications

Country	United States
Year	1999

help Payback FAQ

What is the plot of the 1999 film Payback?

Payback follows Porter, played by Mel Gibson, a thief who is betrayed and left for dead by his partner and his wife. He returns seeking revenge and the exact cut of his stolen money—precisely $70,000—from a massive syndicate of mobsters.

What previous film adaptation was Payback based on?

The movie is based on the 1962 crime novel The Hunter, written by Donald E. Westlake under the pseudonym Richard Stark. The book was famously adapted into the 1967 neo-noir film Point Blank starring Lee Marvin.

Who directed Payback, and what happened behind the scenes?

Brian Helgeland directed the film, but he was famously fired during post-production by Mel Gibson due to creative differences. The studio re-shot a significant portion of the movie to add a more conventional action tone and a new third act.

Is there a director's cut of Payback available?

Yes, in 2006, Brian Helgeland released his original version of the film on DVD under the title Payback: Straight Up. This version restores the original, much darker tone and completely omits the scenes re-shot by Gibson.

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